Biking, hiking, crafts on tap for Earth Day at the refuge

April 4, 2018

Bike or hike Wildlife Drive, watch a film and take advantage of free upcycle projects - for free - at this year's Earth Day on April 21 at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

The refuge will celebrate the 48th anniversary of Earth Day with the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge and the Tarpon Bay Explorers, the refuge's official recreation concession.

Throughout the day, guests can meet Bagzilla, a "bag monster" dressed in the average person's annual plastic bag consumption, and take advantage of free bike rentals from Tarpon Bay Explorers, located two miles south of the refuge's Visitor & Education Center.

In the afternoon, watch the award-winning film "STRAWS," a 30-minute documentary about plastic straw litter and how we can make a sea of change - one straw at a time.

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- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Bike rentals provided by the Tarpon Bay Explorers (renters must pick up bikes at

the Tarpon Bay Explorers)

- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Earth-friendly upcycled crafts to make and take home in the Visitor & Education Center

- 9:30 a.m.: Bike the Refuge Tour (four miles); bring your bicycle or pick up one from the Tarpon Bay Explorers and join a ranger on the Wildlife Drive/Indigo Trail loop to learn about the refuge's wildlife and ecology

- 1 p.m.: Showing of "STRAWS" and take home a paper straw

For more information, call 239-472-1100 or visit dingdarlingsociety.org.

The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive.